These are the sharpest images yet of planets being born around distant stars

image via Space.com

April 30, 2025, 4:30 PM

• •Astronomers captured detailed images of young solar systems.
• •Images reveal the earliest stages of planet formation.
• •Advanced imaging techniques used by the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile.
• •Researchers looked for clues such as gaps and rings in dusty disks, and swirling gas motions.

Astronomers have captured the sharpest images yet of young solar systems, providing a rare glimpse into the earliest stages of planet formation. These images, taken by the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), reveal details of protoplanetary disks and the processes where planets take shape. The data helps refine computer models and offer insights into how infant systems compare to mature exoplanets. Key findings include how large dust grains gather into rings, and signs of gravitational influence, offering astronomers new ways to gauge mass for planet formation.

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